Waitangi Day poll results show preference for change

Waitangi Day poll results show that debate on the issue of a separate national day will not go away and is in fact intensifying, according to United Future leader Peter Dunne.

A study by Research New Zealand found that 55% of respondents do not think that Waitangi Day is significant. While 73% of Maori considered the day significant for them, only 36% of New Zealand European found it meaningful to them.

“The lack of interest in Waitangi Day shows it can never be a genuine national day, while everything remains focused on events at Waitangi,” says Mr Dunne.

“A genuine national day would be ‘owned’ by all New Zealanders – the polls however show that the only group ‘owning’ Waitangi Day is Maori.

“Attempts to force the rest of New Zealand to do likewise will not only fail, but diminish the status of Waitangi Day itself,” argues Mr Dunne.

An informal poll on the United Future website showed 77% support for having a separate New Zealand Day, in addition to Waitangi Day.

“This would allow Waitangi Day to remain and remembered for the reason that it is significant – the signing of the Treaty.

“But the polls and feedback I’ve had has clearly indicated that New Zealanders also want a day free from controversy and historical grievances where we can celebrate being a Kiwi, our achievements and all that is good about New Zealand – and there is much to celebrate,” says Mr Dunne.

He argues that a separate national day is win/win, as opposed to the lose/lose outcome of the current arrangement – and the various polls show that much of the country agree.

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